Ohio House lawmakers failed to sneak in a controversial provision to a bill that would prevent local police officers from working with federal law enforcement, including accessing their databases, when combatting gun crime.
Ohio police have been trying to crack down on gun violence.
“We’re able to really root out a lot of these crimes and arrest these people that are bringing death and destruction to the state,” Fraternal Order of Police’s Mike Weinman said.
But Weinman is worried those efforts would have suffered under legislation the House has been attempting to pass.
While addressing another gun bill, Senate Bill 58, lawmakers offered an amendment. Originally, S.B. 58 would prohibit the requirement of liability insurance for guns.
But in the proposed amendment, one that state Rep. Josh Williams supports — it put in a policy that the lawmaker calls the Second Amendment Protection Act, nationally known as SAPA.
“I don’t trust the federal government when it comes to my second amendment,” William said. “Not only do I have a second amendment right under the federal government, but I have a second amendment right here within the state of Ohio.”